Have you ever thought to yourself, “I’m going to turn over a new leaf?” What does that mean? It means to start over, act differently, or change your attitude about something – change, improve, reform, or amend. In the 16th century, a leaf referred to a page in a book – like turning to a blank, fresh, clean page.
Many of us have doubts or second thoughts when we look to change course or start fresh. Turning over a new leaf can be complicated – as breaking a bad habit can sometimes feel impossible. In life, we often become obscured by external world distractions, job titles, money earned, keeping up with our friends, often following others where we know we shouldn’t be. Sometimes we need to step back, let the dust settle to see things more clearly and understand the ramifications before setting our actual goals. What defines us are our principles and values in life and how we treat others and ourselves.
Our values are the determining factor in finding the true meaning and happiness in our lives. Therefore, making the right choices, surrounding ourselves with loving and honest people will allow us to concentrate on the important things.
When researching leaves, I came across the Arbor Day Foundation. Arbor Day is usually celebrated on the last Friday in April – for most of our country - which is the opportune time to plant new trees. But for Texas, we celebrate it on the first Friday of November. I’ve included a link to their site if you’d like to research trees or if you would like to donate or become a member. https://www.arborday.org/programs/
Each of us can turn over a new leaf. We probably take on the task more often than we realize. Here are five different suggestions to help you turn over a new leaf:
- Consider the Opposite. If you find yourself in a rough spot, consider doing something opposite. You can get a fresh perspective, and that might be what you need.
- Stop. Stop doing what is stressful. Take a break. If what you were doing isn’t working – pause and see what insight you find. If we are relaxed, we’re likely to contemplate our day and the emotions we experienced.
- Journal. Writing it down can help with turning the next page. What are the pros and cons of the situation? What is it that I aim to solve? Journaling can lead to a solution.
- Exercise. A powerful way to activate the mind is by physical activity. More oxygen in the bloodstream leads to clearer thinking.
- Talk with a friend or mentor. Having a friend or mentor to talk to and run ideas by might be the most essential factor. It’s important to have a friend who will tell you what you need to hear, even if it’s not what you want to hear. Examine your dreams and your situation from multiple angles while listening to what your friend has to say. Discuss your options and decide on the right road to take.
More times than I like to remember, I was required to turn over a new leaf.* Often, the courses I was taking in one school, would not be available in the following school. All in all, the different schools would somehow compromise and find a comparable course, and at the end of the school year, I would get credit for that subject. We would find ourselves seeking happiness in every new location and, therefore, turning over a new leaf to accept new people, new housing, new schools, new shopping, and new medical facilities.
As we move through the remainder of 2021, may we all rise to the challenge of seeking happiness wherever our path leads and enjoy the falling leaves and their beautiful colors.
*Check out my ABOUT page to understand my background.
All my best,
Julie